Santa Rosa Wreck Claims Life Of Jay High Graduate
July 4, 2012
A 21-year old man died in a two vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon in Santa Rosa County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Trevor J. Thomas of Milton was southbound on Chumuckla Highway near Archies Way at 3:30 p.m. in a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro when he crossed the center dividing line into the path of a 2009 Chevrolet truck driven by 16-year old Clayton Gregory of Pensacola.
Troopers said Gregory saw Thomas cross the center line and tried to avoid a collision. But Thomas never attempted to correct his driving mistake, according to the FHP.
Thomas, a 2009 graduate of Jay High School, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Gregory received only minor injuries; he will not face any charges in connection with the accident, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured top and inset: A Jay High School graduate driving this Camaro died Tuesday afternoon when he drove into the path of a pickup truck (pictured below) on Chumuckla Highway. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Charges To Be Filed In Toddler Shooting
July 4, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has announced that there will be no charges filed in connection with the weekend shooting of a two-year old child.
The toddler sustained a gunshot would to the stomach area, according to investigators, Sunday afternoon about 3:30 at a home in the 7300 block of Pine Forest Road. The toddler was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to a Sacred Heart Hospital where he remains hospitalized in stable condition.
The child was with his mother, Angela Matthews, as she was visiting her boyfriend, Kevin Vestal, at his home. The 2-year old was separated from another child and put into a bedroom by Matthews, the Sheriff’s Office said. Later, a loud bang was heard and the child was found with the wound.
“Kevin Vestal had a firearm stored in this room, and wasn’t aware that the two-year old was in there. The case has been ruled accidental and no charges will be filed,” Deputy Matt Baxter, spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.
Featured Recipe: Yankee Doodle Dandy Treats
July 4, 2012
Looking to spend some time with the kids in the kitchen? Yankee Doodle Dandy Treats are a fun, easy and patriotic way to celebrate.
The recipe is not only easy, but it also lots of fun. It’s terrific for a “just-because” snack or as a sweet way to finish off a family picnic. And kids of all ages can help – from pouring and stirring to dipping and decorating, there’s something everyone can do.
Yankee Doodle Dandy Treats
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 package (10 ounces, about 40) regular marshmallows OR 4 cups miniature marshmallows
- 6 cups Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal OR 6 cups Kellogg’s® Cocoa Krispies® cereal
- 1 1/2 cups white chocolate morsels
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- Red-, white- and blue-colored sprinkles
Preparation
- In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
- Add cereal. Stir until well coated.
- Using buttered spatula or wax paper, evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Crosswise cut in half, forming two 9 x 6 1/2-inch rectangles.
- Meanwhile, in small saucepan melt white chocolate morsels over low heat, stirring frequently. Stir in oil. Add powdered sugar, stirring until combined. Add water. Stir until smooth.
- Spread chocolate mixture over one cereal rectangle. Top with second rectangle. Sprinkle with red, white and blue sprinkles, pressing lightly into cereal mixture. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set. Cut into 3 1/4 x 1-inch strips. Best if served the same day.
Serves
Servings 18
Preparation Time:
30 minutes
Total Time:
1 hour
Flomaton, Century Celebrate The 4th With Fireworks (With Gallery)
July 4, 2012
The area’s fireworks Fourth of July demonstrations got underway Tuesday night at Showalter Park in Century.
Last year, both towns sponsored a fireworks show at Hurricane Park in Flomaton. Century agreed to help pay for the show only if the town’s alternated being the host for the event each year — the event will return to Flomaton next year.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Fireworks Tuesday night at Showalter Park in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos by Raja Atallah and Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Federal, State And Local Officials Applaud RESTORE Act
July 4, 2012
Local, state and federal officials gathered on Pensacola Beach Tuesday to celebrate the passage of the RESTORE act. Passed by Congress last week, the RESTORE act, which was part of a larger transportation measure, earmarks 80 percent of water pollution fines BP is expected to pay for restoration efforts in Gulf States, which bore the brunt of the damage from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.
“To be able to have the money stay here in Northwest Florida is very important. We know that the oil spill was ongoing a lot of the money that was dedicated to helping people through the process was used all over the state of Florida where the biggest damage was done in Northwest Florida. That’s not going to happen again,” Congressman Jeff Miller said at a Pensacola Beach press conference.
Once money is allocated to the local area under the federal act, it will be up to local governments to decide how to spend those dollars.
“The idea of this money is to use it for things we will invest in the future both for infrastructure projects and other things either environmental or economic that will move us forward,” County Commissioner Grover Robinson said.
The bill is awaiting President Barack Obama’s signature. It’s not clear exactly when local Gulf Coast communities will see their first payment.
Pictured top: (L-R) Escambia Commissioners Wilson Robertson and Grover Robinson, Congressman Jeff Miller, Santa Rosa Island Authority Director Buck Lee and State Rep. Doug Broxson during a news conference Tuesday on Pensacola Beach to address the RESTORE act. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Smell Of Smoke Prompts Store Evacuation
July 3, 2012
The Davisville Family Dollar was evacuated and temporarily closed this afternoon due to the smell of smoke.
Employees of the store at 11200 Highway 97, near the Alabama state line, reported an electrical burning smell inside the building about 3:40 p.m. Firefighters determined the source of the smell to be an overheated computer battery backup system that was plugged up but not in use.
The store reopened for business a short time later.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department responded to the call.
Picture: The smell of smoke prompted the evacuation of the Family Dollar in Davisville Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Residents: Garbage Pickup As Usual On The Fourth Of July
July 3, 2012
According to the Town of Century, Allied Waste will pick up garbage as usual on Wednesday July 4 for residents within the town limits.
For more information, contact Allied Waste at (251) 809-0800.
Driver Charged After Crashing Into Century Convenience Store
July 3, 2012
A Flomaton man was charged by the Florida Highway Patrol after driving his car into a Century convenience store Monday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 22-year old Troy Anthony Smith attempted to park his 1993 Buick Century in front of the store at 8130 North Century Boulevard. As a female passenger in the vehicle walked inside, the Smith hit the gas pedal rather than the brake for unknown reasons. The car jumped the curb and plowed through double glass doors and into the store.
There were no injuries. Smith removed the car from the store prior to the FHP’s arrival.
Smith was charged with careless driving, no proof of insurance, and operating a motor vehicle without a license.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Cantonment School Bus Wreck
July 3, 2012
There were no injuries when a Cantonment woman rear-ended a loaded school bus this morning in Cantonment.
The school bus driven by 50-yar old Carla Stromas of Molino was stopped for a railroad crossing about 7:20 a.m. on County Road 97 near Muscogee Road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the bus was then struck from the rear by a 2003 Ford Windstar driven by 57-year old Luis Martinez.
Stromas, Martinez, and bus passengers 62-year old Mary Smith of Barth and seven students from Cantonment ranging in age from 6-19 were not injured.
Martinez was cited by the FHP for careless driving.
Alabama Man Dies As Result Of Traffic Crash
July 3, 2012
An Alabama man has died as a result of injuries he sustained in a Monday morning traffic crash.
Alabama State Troopers said 24-year old Robert Marcus Powell was eastbound on Highway 31 near Abrams Road, about six miles east of Atmore, when he collided nearly head-on with a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Jonathan Criswell, of Ray City, Ga.
Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free Powell from the Corolla after the crash. He was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Bay Minette, Ala., and then airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile where he later passed away from his injuries.
Criswell and passengers in both vehicles were not injured.
The accident remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured: One person was seriously injured in this two vehicle crash Monday morning in Canoe, Ala. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
